Retha “Suzy” West, 63, of Springfield, Mo. departed this life in the early hours of Wednesday, December 28th, 2022 in Springfield, Mo. She was born on September 21, 1959 in Springfield, Mo to James and Ellen (Kinney) West.
Retha grew up in Springfield, MO and then soon after graduating from Parkview High School, moved to Mountain Grove, Mo where she raised her two daughters. Retha was an extremely hard worker. She worked for many years at Brown Shoe Co. in Mountain Grove. After Brown Shoe closed, she went to work for the Mountain Grove school district where she took much pride in making sure her teacher’s rooms were always clean and taken care of. She later moved back to Republic, Mo. and finished her career at Hilton Garden Inn of Springfield, Mo. Retha enjoyed many trips to the casinos with her mother Ellen. One of her favorite things was traveling together with her mother. Retha loved to crochet and was a devoted Kansas City Chiefs fan. Before moving back to Republic, she spent many nights playing and coaching slow pitch softball. Many of her lifetime friends were made on the softball fields. Her other passions were camping, canoeing and trips on her motorcycle with friends and family. She later enjoyed cheering on 3 of her grandsons while they played baseball, watching her eldest grandson reach the honor of Eagle Scout, an honor only 2% of scouts complete and her youngest just learning to talk and take his first steps. Retha was a loving mom, grandma and great grandma. Retha will be deeply missed.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Linda West and grandson Destyn Yarger.
Retha is survived by her significant other, Carl Keller; two daughters, Erica Yarger of Rolla, Mo, Sarah Craig of Springfield Mo; step-son, Levi Blanchette of Louisville, Co; five grandsons, Blayne, Brady and Bret Yarger of Rolla, Mo. James Byerley and Weston Jones of Springfield, Mo; one great-grandson, Declan Byerley; one sister, Joyce Richard and husband, Bill of Billings, Mo; two brothers, Jim West and wife, Nancy of Joplin, Mo. Sam West and wife, Jeanette of Alexandria MN and host of other family and friends.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date and time for family and friends.
Cremation is under the direction of the Kissee-Schofield-Eakins Funeral Home, Forsyth, MO.
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